Backhoe as a grader and/or angle trencher



April 7, 1970 V. A. BRUESKE BACKHOE A3 A GRADER AND/OR ANGLE TRENCHER Filed Dec. 12, 1966 I N VEN TOR.

VERN ALVIN BRUESKE United States Patent 3,504,451 BACKHOE AS A GRADER AND/0R ANGLE TRENCHER Vern Alvin Brueske, Rte. 1, Box 90C, Del Mar, Calif. 92014 Filed Dec. 12, 1966, Ser. No. 592,022 Int. Cl. E02f /02, 3/85 US. Cl. 37103 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A backhoe is provided with apparatus for rotating the bucket about the longitudinal axis of the backhoe body. The tractor is provided with a fixed plate, the backhoe body is provided with a turning plate, and a kingpin connects the two plates for relative rotation. A hydraulic cylinder is attached to the fixed plate and the. ram thereof mounted by means of a changeover pin in either a right or left hole at the top of the turning plate to provide for rotation of the latter. The fixed plate is provided with scales and the turning plate is provided with pointers to visually indicate the amount of relative rotation.

This invention relates to improvements in the design of a backhoe as a grader for moving earth, excavating earth or materials handling, and more particularly, it relates to the redesign of the backhoe connector, substituting there for a fixed plate and a turning plate, capable of rotating over 90 degrees in either direction, enabling the backhoe body with its bucket to be utilized to grade at any angle desired or to dig a trench vertically or at any angle desired even when the tractor is standing on a slope or to undercut the side walls of a trench.

FIGURE 1 is a partial side view of a conventional backhoe showing the attachment of the backhoe body to the tractor;

FIGURE 2a is a side view of the kingpin;

FIGURE 2b shows the nut for thekingpin;

FIGURE 3a is a view along the line AA of FIGURE 31);

FIGURE 3b is a side view of the novel backhoe connection according to the present invention;

FIGURE 3c is a view of the turning plate as seen looking to the left in FIGURE 3b;

FIGURE 4a is a top view of the turning plate;

FIGURE 4b is an end view of the turning plate;

FIGURE 4c is a side view of the turning plate;

FIGURE 51: is an end view of the fixed plate showing the scales;

FIGURE 5b is a side view of the fixed plate;

FIGURE 5c is a top view of the fixed plate;

FIGURE 6 is a partial plan view of a conventional backhoe showing the attachment of the backhoe body to the tractor;

FIGURE 7a is an end view of the changeover pin; and

FIGURE 7b is a side view of the changeover pin.

The design is shown for the model 32 Construction King with variations in dimensions permitted to fit any particular model of backhoe. For lighter or heavier backhoes, the redesign would be adjusted accordingly to accomodate the weight of the backhoe and the capacity of the bucket. The backhoe grader substituted parts would be painted the color of the backhoe, normally yellow or orange.

The backhoe is utilized to perform a variety of chores in the construction field such as trenching, earth excavating or materials handling. Limitations in the performance of the backhoe are its inability to trench vertically when the machine is standing on a slope, inability to undercut the side walls of the trench and inability to grade at any 3,504,451 Patented Apr. 7, 1970 angle to the horizontal. These work limitations are overcome by the design improvement described herein as the backhoe-grader. The ability to turn the backhoe body 6 with its bucket 7 about its lengthwise axis around the kingpin 8, either to the right or left by over degrees, overcomes these limitations. Dimensions shown on the drawing may be changed to fit any particular model. The improved design could be fitted to any other capacity model backhoe if the need arises for such an application. A scale of degrees may be etched on two plates 20 and fastened to the tractor face of the fixed plate 13 on both the right and left sides in full view of the operator when in his seat at the controls. Two telescoping rabbit ears A1" diameter antena-type pointers 15 may be added to the turning plate 14 to indicate by its position behind the degree scale the amount of turning movement of the backhoe-grader bucket from its vertical position for the information of the operator. The degree scales are each fastened by two /s" diameter machine screws 21 to the fixed plate 13 as indicated in FIGURE 5a on the drawing. The 9" long telescoping pointers are forced into the socket holes provided on the top edge of the turning plate and each one. is fastened with one /8" diameter machine screw.

The object of the backhoe-grader invention is to provide lengthwise turning of the backhoe body 6 with bucket 7 to the right or left as needed, controlled by hydraulic, pneumatic, electric or other power at the control lever 3 by the operator, through an angle of 90 degrees or more, adding to the capabilities of the machine and enabling it to trench earth at any angle, to trench vertically on any slope, to widen the side walls of a trench or undercut them and to grade to either side of the machine at any sope.

A detailed description of my invention follows: The improved backhoe body 6 design eiiminates the backhoe connector 4 in its entirety and substitutes therefor a fixed plate 13 with king pin 8 secured rigidly thereto by threads and an hydraulic cylinder 5 or other power actuator secured theretoby a pin, and a turning plate 14 with bushing 9, secured to the king pin 8 by means of a washer 10 and nut 11 and actuated by the ram 17, or other device, of the hydraulic cylinder 5 attached by the changeover pin 16. The changeover pin 16 connects the ram 17 to the right or left hand pin hole provided there-for in the turning plate 14, all as shown in FIGS. 3a, 3b, and 3c. The flanges shown on the fixed plate 13 and the turning plate 14 are welded 18 thereon. Cotter pins /8 in diameter hold vertical pins 24 connecting existing backhoe swinging rams securely in place through the slot 25 in the fixed plate 13, and the changeover pin 16 connecting the hydraulic cylinder 5, ram 17 to the turning plate 14, as shown in FIG- URE 3b of the drawing. The nut 11 is similarly locked in place by the cotter pin as shown in FIGURE 3b of the drawing.

To assemble the mechanism, place the machine on level ground. Disconnect the backhoe connector 4 from the tractor 2 and the backhoe body 6 by removing the pins. Disconnect all hose lines running to the backhoe body 6. Insert the king pin 8 in the threaded hole in the fixed plate 13 all the way until tight. Attach the fixed plate .13 to the tractor 2 by reinserting the pins just removed, slot down and hose guide holes up, the king pin 8 extending outward toward the backhoe body 6. Insert the base of the closed telescoping pointers 15 into the 2 holes provided at the top of the turning plate 14 and secure them with A5" diameter machine screws 21'. Attach the turning plate 14 to the backhoe body 6 reinserting the pins just removed. Block up the backhose body 6 until the bushing hole in the turning plate 14 is in line with the king pin 8. Attach the hydraulic cylinder 5 with ram 17 to the center top hole of the fixed plate 13 with a pin. Move the tractor 2 toward the backhoe body 6 until the king pin 8 enters the female bushing 9 all the way, then add the washer 10, tighten nut 11 and secure with the cotter pin. Insert 2 pins in bottom of fixed plate 13 to connect rams from tractor 2 for backhoe body 6 swinging motion control and secure with cotter pins in the 2 cotter pin holes provided at bottom of fixed plate 13. Insert changeover pin 16 in right or left pin hole at top of turning plate 14, opposite the side on which the work is to be done by the bucket 7, with the head toward the backhoe body 6 and the cotter pin hole toward the tractor 2. Then insert the cotter pin through the space between the fixed plate 13 and the turning plate 14, in the cotter pin hole provided in the changeover pin 16, securing it. Thread the hoses 26 in pairs through the hose guide holes 27 provided along the upper sides of the fixed plate 13 or through substitute types such as orelock-shaped hose holders, either flexible or rigid with snap end closers, attached singly or in gangs along the sides of the fixed plate 13 instead of the hose guide holes indicated in FIGURES 3a and a on the drawing which eliminates threading the hoses through the holes, simplifying assembly. Couplings, non-leak when open, should also be provided in all hose lines which pass beyond the fixed plate 13 to facilitate assembly. Connect all hose couplings to correct hose ends. Remove the blocking and the machine is ready to operate.

To operate the backhoe-grader, after the assembly of the substitute parts as outlined above, start the engine and when the hydraulic or other pressure is up to working range, and with the front loader and bucket on the ground, move the tractor 2 into position for the work. Place the changeover pin 16 in the hole of the turning plate 14 opposite to the side of the work to be done and connect it to the ram 17, then secure it with the cotter pin. Extend the pointers end on the work side of the machine beyond the fixed plate. Then from the operators seat on the tractor 2, the operator, facing the backhoe-grader plays the levers on the control panel 3 to perform the work at hand. An additional control lever is used to turn the backhoe body 6 with bucket 7 to the desired degree of angle for the work to be done. For work on the opposite side of the machine, remove the change-over pin 16 from the hole it is in and move it to the opposite hole in the turning plate 14, again securing it with the cotter pin after connecting it to the ram 17.

New models of the backhoe may incorporate the additional parts enumerated above as standard equipment to convert them into a backhoe-grader, or the parts may be utilized separately to convert the machine when needed to perform trenching or grading work that cannot be done with the simple backhoe. Older models of backhoe may be converted by the change or parts noted along with the longer, coupling-equipped hose lines. The backhoe connector 4 is surplus when this is done and may be discarded or saved for possible use on other work. Use of other kinds of power sources such as pneumatic or electric is possible and depends upon the design of the model to be converted. The parts required for conversion from a simple backhoe to a backhoe-grader, including additional coupling hose, may be installed separately to convert older models, or furnished as an extra on new models on which it is not desired for some reason to install the grading and/or trenching feature as standard equipment.

I claim:

1. In combination:

(a) a fixed plate having vertically-aligned ears extending from the forward face thereof adapted to be attached to vertically-aligned ears extending rearwardly from a tractor; means near the top center of the rearward face of said fixed plate for securing one end of a hydraulic cylinder having a ram;

(b) a turning plate having ears extending from the rearward face thereof adapted to be attached to a backhoe body, a right and left hole near the top of said turning plate;

(c) a kingpin fixed to the rearward face of said fixed plate and extending through the turning plate, a bearing surface on the kingpin mounting the turning plate for rotation relative to the kingpin;

(d) a changeover pin mounted in one of said holes near the top of said turning plate, means connecting the changeover pin to the ram extending from said hydraulic cylinder;

(e) a scale attached to said fixed plate and a pointer attached to said turning plate to indicate the amount of angular rotation of said backhoe body; and

(f) a source of hydraulic fluid under pressure and a valve to release a supply of fluid under pressure to said hydraulic cylinder whereby said ram is actuated to move said changeover pin and thereby turn said turning plate, thus imparting rotational movement to the backhoe body about the longitudinal axis of said backhoe body.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,847,134 8/1958 Slate 2l4-l38 3,184,867 5/1965 Symmank 37-l03 3,231,116 1/1966 Powell 214-138 3,247,986 4/1966 Eyler et a1. 214-138 ROBERT E. PULFREY, Primary Examiner C. D. CROWDER, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.-R. 

